The mystic marriage of Saint Catherine 1545 - 1555

Andrea Schiavone created this etching, "The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine," in 16th century Italy, likely as a smaller, more accessible version of a larger painting. The image depicts Saint Catherine kneeling before the Virgin and Child, with other religious figures looking on. The etching medium allowed for wider distribution of religious imagery, catering to a growing market for devotional art outside the patronage of the church and wealthy elite. Schiavone's loose, sketch-like style also suggests a departure from the highly finished, idealized forms favored by the Academy, possibly appealing to a different class of collector. To fully understand this work, we would need to examine the socio-economic conditions of Venice at this time, as well as the changing role of religious art in society. This kind of research can help us to interpret the values and beliefs reflected in the art of the past.